Ordnance.



J. C. HUMPHREYS.

ORDNANCE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 30.19I4.

1 ,185,326. Patented May 30, 1916.

I I jyz:

J. C. HUMPHREYS.

ORDNANCE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 30.1914.

Patented May 30, 1916.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

W|tnesses Attorneys uuin STATES ra'ru'r -rrron.

.JOHN c. nuivirnimYs, or EUSTIS, FLORIDA.

OBDN ANCE.

- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 30, 1916.

vApplication filed June 30, 1914. Serial No. 848,213.

manipulated at the will of the operator or.

gunner, so that the gun may be fired at any angle to a perpendicular and may be laterally swung .so that the same may be properly sighted and fired.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a supporting turn table for a gun of this type, and a swingingly mounted gun carrying member, both of which are controlled from a single prime moverand placed directly under the control of the operator, so that with a simple manipulation of levers, the turn table may be swung to any desired degree and the gun elevated to any angle of projection.

, With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the detailsof construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings-Figure .1 is a side elevation of the complete apparatus. Fig. 2 is-a :top plan view thereof, a portion of the turn table being broken away to show the structure of the lower member and the antifrictional bearings. Fig. 3 is a cross section taken through a portion of the turn table. Fig. 4 :is an enlarged detail view of one of the clutches. Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken through the gun carrying member, illustrating the spring cushion for taking care of the recoil of the gun. Fig. 6 is a section taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates the base member of the turn table,

which is provided with the central recess portion 2 for the reception of the truncated member 3 of the rotatable platform 4 of the turn table. The platform 4 is provided with a downturned flange 5 which fits exteriorly of the base 1, there being disposed between the two members 1 and 4, the antifrictional ball bearings 6. The portion of the base 1 between the ball races is provided with gear teeth 7, while the turntable platform 4 is provided with a slot or opening 8 therethrough for the projection of the gear 9 which engages the teeth 7. By this means,

when the shaft 10 is rotated as will later appear, the turn table member 4 will be rotated. The shaft 10 is journaled in the brackets l111 and carries freely upon the same, the two gears 13 and 14 each of which as shown in Fig. v4 is provided with the clutch face ab for engagement with the slidable clutch member 15. This clutch member is keyed on the shaft 10 and is controlled through the -manually controlled mechanism 16,. so that either one of the gears 13 or 14 will be brought into play to cause the turn table member 4 to be rotated in any desired direction. In this instance, an explosive engine E which may be taken indicative of any .form of prime mover is provided with a bevel gear 12 which meshes at all times with the gears 13 and 14, said gears 13 and 14 being freely rotatable upon the shaft 10 and as before stated being made fast therewith through the clutch member 15. A bevel pinion .17 is operated by the prime mover E at the opposite side thereof to the bevel pinion 12 and meshes at all is in mesh at all times with the toothed segment 27 carried by the gun carrying casing or sleeve 30. Thus as the shaft 20 is rotated, the gun 35 is inclined at the desired angle for shooting.

In order to provide a means for retarding the action of the movement of the gun and also for holding the same in the desired position for shooting after the clutch member 21 has been thrown in neutral position, a wheel 27 is keyed upon the shaft 25 and hasdisposed thereabout, a brake band 28 which is controlled by the foot lever 29. Thus a brake is provided for holding the shaft 25 stationary and consequently the segment 27.

The gun carrying sleeve or member 30 as clearly illustrated in Fig. 5, is provided with the oppositely disposed trunnions 31 which are mounted in the journal bearings 32 supported by the tripods or frames 34, one at each side of the carriage. The breech of the gun is therefore projected through the member 30 as illustrated in Fig. 5, and is provided with a sleeve or collar 36 thereupon which fits snugly within the sleeve or member 30 With the springs 38 and 39 upon opposite sides thereof, the detachable block or plug 37 which surrounds the gun at the forward end of the member 30 assisting in retaining the spring 38 in proper relation to the collar 36, While the rear end of the member 30 retains the spring 39. By this means, the gun upon recoil is properly cushioned. In order to prevent the gun from rotating within the member 30, the cooperating spline and groove are provided.

In order that the gun may be properly aimed, the forward sight F and the rear sight R are provided.

What is claimed is:

In a device of the class described, a base having a rack; a platform rotatable with respect to the base; a frame carried by the platformg'a gun mounted to swing vertically on the frame; a motor on the platform and embodying a shaft disposed parallel to the plane of swinging movement of the gun; beveled gear wheels fixed to opposite ends of the motor shaft; a second shaft and a third shaft journaled on the platform and disposed on opposite sides of the motor and at right angles to the plane of swinging movement of the gun; pairs of beveled pinions loose on the second and third shafts, the pinions of the pairs meshing respectively with the gear wheels; clutches on the second and third shafts and cooperating selectively with each beveled pinion of each pair to couple the same with the second and third shafts; a pinion carried by the second shaft and meshing into the rack on the base; an arcuate rack assembled with the gun; and a gear train connecting the arcuate rack with the third shaft.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto afiixed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

JOHN C. HUMPHREYS.

' 'Witnesses:

E. W. HEFNER, G. F. GREENE. 

